Renault Trafic daily van
Renault Trafic daily van
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macp

Original Poster:

4,475 posts

200 months

Wednesday 3rd September
quotequote all
So following on from my previous thread as I continue my search for a van I can use daily, and mod lightly into a day van, Today I test drove a 2022 Trafic 2.0 DCi Sport+ with 150bhp (6 speed manual) and was really impressed wth the drive. And with the general fit & finish. So in short I want one.

So I have some questions such as, is the 2.0 much better than the 1.6. I see the interior changes, but would the mechanicals be the same in a van from say 2016 through to 2021 or 2022.

anyoldcardave

890 posts

84 months

Wednesday 3rd September
quotequote all
macp said:
So following on from my previous thread as I continue my search for a van I can use daily, and mod lightly into a day van, Today I test drove a 2022 Trafic 2.0 DCi Sport+ with 150bhp (6 speed manual) and was really impressed wth the drive. And with the general fit & finish. So in short I want one.

So I have some questions such as, is the 2.0 much better than the 1.6. I see the interior changes, but would the mechanicals be the same in a van from say 2016 through to 2021 or 2022.
Do not know much about them, except one of the driveshafts, cannot remember which, has a bad habit of wearing the gearbox casing, rendering both US, scrapped a lot because of it, usually older ones though, it may have been rectified but I would be trying to find out.

macp

Original Poster:

4,475 posts

200 months

Thursday 4th September
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Many thanks I will check it out. But having wearily spent hours and hours looking I think the trafic, with the exception of the Vito is one of the best of a bad bunch.

I’m also going to stick out for the Sport spec. I don’t want to go older than 2020. I guess I will need to test a van from 2020 & 2021 to see if it drives as well. I don’t imagine I can stretch to the 150bhp sport, so I guess I will be looking at a 130bhp.

Benson11

95 posts

181 months

Thursday 4th September
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Having built a Trafic 2 hi-top into a camper van and your plans to convert to a day van, its worth considering what parts are available for you do the conversion. I found there is a lot less stuff for Trafics compared to the VW's, Transits, Mercs and Fiats. Also, the wall thickness and shape in my van definitely comprises the space and ease of build.

In terms of your questions around engine, there are a few facebook groups for these vans and conversions, they would be worth a read and should help you make your mind up.

If I had my time again with a van build, I'd go with a Transit for smaller van, or Sprinter/Ducato for a bigger build.

macp

Original Poster:

4,475 posts

200 months

Thursday 4th September
quotequote all
Benson11 said:
Having built a Trafic 2 hi-top into a camper van and your plans to convert to a day van, its worth considering what parts are available for you do the conversion. I found there is a lot less stuff for Trafics compared to the VW's, Transits, Mercs and Fiats. Also, the wall thickness and shape in my van definitely comprises the space and ease of build.

In terms of your questions around engine, there are a few facebook groups for these vans and conversions, they would be worth a read and should help you make your mind up.

If I had my time again with a van build, I'd go with a Transit for smaller van, or Sprinter/Ducato for a bigger build.
Thanks for the reply, but surely a space is a space. And the Trafic looks a very similar shape to the Transporter. There seems to be a lot of professional builders listing the Trafic for builds. I wont be doing it myself, and it wont even be a full build. Im not even installing a poptop. The van has to be a daily use (non commercial) vehicle too.

Edited by macp on Thursday 4th September 15:55

macp

Original Poster:

4,475 posts

200 months

Sunday 7th September
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Just adding a pic or two. Ignoring the less than clean seats the cabin is really nice place to be. All my personal opinion, but cabin looks better and feels easily as good as a Transporter inside. It drives bloody well, very quiet & smooth. It will cost between 18 & 20k for a 22 plate with 45 to 60,000 miles. So that would just about get me a a 2018 or 19 VW van with A/C and possibly cruise, but 130 to 150,000 miles. Although I saw a white 2016 Sportline Kombi with 84k for 24k and it was sold pretty quickly. All that and still the only thing making me hesitate is the Transporter residuals being so strong. First world problems eh !